Photographic processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A tubular member having one open end is adapted to receive a flexible or rigid screen, within which is placed an exposed sheet of photographic paper. After developing chemicals are poured into the tubular member, it is closed by a cap and the assembled unit is rotated about a horizontal axis. A second screen may be placed within the first screen and exposed photographic paper placed within this second screen, and even a third screen and paper may be placed within the second screen. Two tubular members connected together by an adapter can be used to process large prints and such connected tubular members contain one or two screens as desired.

1451 Feb. 19, 1974 PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSING APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Duane G. Banks, 532 Fieldstone Dr., Monroeville, Pa. 15146 22 Filed: Feb. 29, 1972 21 App]. No.: 230,379

[52] US. Cl. ..354/340, 95/89 R [51] Int. Cl. G03d 3/08 [58] Field of Search 95/89 R, 93, 90.5; 220/1 E; 215/6 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 628,904 7/1899 Edson 220/1 E 2,110,237 3/1938 Parsons 215/6 2,328,543 9/1943 Bauman 215/6 UX 2,804,003 8/1957 Hoffman 95/90.5

3,693,529 9/1972 Stabler 95/93 3,703,860 11/1972 Wilkinson 95/93 3,381,599 5/1968 Banks 95/93 X 3,668,997 6/1972 Ratowsky.. 95/93 3,673,944 7/1972 Maxwell 95/93 763,357 6/1904 Brainerd 95/90.5

1,276,289 8/1918 Ulrich 95/93 2,947,236 8/1960 Siegel 95/93 3,623,416 11/1971 Anderberg.. 95/93 3,626,834 12/1971 Speranza 95/93 Primary Examiner-Richard M. Sheer Attorney, Agent, or FirmSherman l-l. Barber [57] ABSTRACT A tubular member having one open end is adapted to receive a flexible or rigid screen, within which is placed an exposed sheet of photographic paper. After developing chemicals are poured into the tubular member, it is closed by a cap and the assembled unit is rotated about a horizontal axis. A second screen may be placed within the first screen and exposed photographic paper placed within this second screen, and even a third screen and paper may be placed within the second screen. Two tubular members connected together by an adapter can be used to process large prints and such connected tubular members contain one or two screens as desired.

7 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PHOTOG RA PIIIC PROCESSING APPARATUS BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to photography and, more particularly, to photographic processing apparatus.

A tubular member that has one open end and one closed end is adapted to receive a flexible or a rigid screen. A sheet of exposed photographic paper is placed inside of the screen with the emulsion side away from the screen. A cap is provided that closes the end of the tubular member after photographic developing chemicals have been placed inside of the tubular memher, and the assembled unit is then rotated about a horizontal axis in a tank.

In handling large prints two tubular members are end connected to an adapter. A long flexible or rigid screen is inserted into one tubular member and exposed photographic paper is inserted into the screen. After photographic developing chemicals have been poured into the tubular member, the other tubular member is connected to the adapter and then the assembled unit is placed in the tank for rotation about a horizontal axis. Additional screens with exposed photographic paper inside of them may be inserted into the first screen as described previously.

For a further understanding of the invention and for features and advantages thereof, reference may be made to the following description and to the drawings which show one embodiment and modifications of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded view of a portion of one apparatus in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a screen used with the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another screen used with the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is another screen used with the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a cap for use with the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows the apparatus of FIG. 1 in use;

FIG. 7 is a portion of the apparatus of the invention in use;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 6 showing it in use;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a view through a modification of the apparatus of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a view similar to that of FIG. 8, but showing a modification of the apparatus there shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 1, a photographic processing apparatus 11 in accordance with my invention includes a first tubular member 13 having one closed end 15 to which is centrally and axially mounted an outwardly extending spindle 17. The end of the first tubular member that is opposite the closed end 15. is open. A second similar tubular member 19v also has one closed end 21 to. which is mounted centrally and axially an outwardly extending spindle 23; the other end of the tubular member '19 is open.

Each tubular member 13, 19 is provided with a plurality of surface vanes 25, 27 respectivelythat extend circumferentially around the outer surface of the tubular members 13, 19. The peripheral vanes 25, 27 may be recessed into the surface of the tubular members 13, 19 as shown, or they may protrude from the surface, as preferred.

Additionally, the outer surface of each tubular member 13, 19, at a location adjacent the open end, is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed arcuate grooves 29, 31 that coact with protrusions 33 on the end portions 35, 37 of an adapter 39, as shown in FIG. 1.

The outer surface of the adapter 39 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending vanes 41 that are closely spaced and arranged circumferentially around the adapter 39 as shown. These vanes 41 may also be recessed if desired.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that in one embodiment of the invention, like that shown in FIG. 6, the two tubular members 13, 19 are mated with and locked into position with the adapter 39; the grooves 29, 31 coacting with the protrusions 33,

thereby securing the members 13, 39 and 19 together as a unit apparatus.

FIG. 2 illustrates a fine mesh, flexible screen 43 that is made of plastic preferably and that is about as long as each one of the tubular members 13 and 19. The screen 43 is, however, slightly smaller in diameter than the inside diameter of the tubular members 13, 19 so that it easily fits within each such member.

In some applications the flexible screen 43 is slightly shorter than the inside length of the assembled unit including the two tubular members 13, 19 and the adapter 39. It should be understood that the screen 43 may be rigid instead of being flexible in which instance it would be used just as the flexible screen.

A thin elongate open-ended perforated rigid tubular member 45, as shown in FIG. 3, is smaller in diameter than the first and second tubular members 13, 19 and it is also smaller in diameter than the screen 43. Wherefore, the tubular member 45, which is also a screen, fits inside both the tubular members l3, 19. It should be understood that the screen 45 may in some instances be slightly shorter than the combined length of the unit described previously.

Another perforated tubular member 47 is shown in FIG. 4 and it is like the screen 45, but is smaller in diameter so that it can fit within the screen 45. It, too, is slightly shorter than the inside length of one tubular member 13 or 19, or in some applications it may be shorter than the length of the combined unit described previously.

FIG. 5 illustrates an end closure cap 49 that is provided with two radially oriented protrusions 51 like the protrusions 33 on the adapter 39. The cap 49 also may have an external and outwardly extending spindle 53. The end cap 49 is adapted to coact with the open end portions of both the first and the second tubular members l3, l9 individually, and its use with one of these tubular members 13 is illustrated in FIG. 7.

In use, the assembled unit 11, described hereinafter, is placed in a tank 55, shown in FIGS. 6, 7 which has end-walls 57, 59 that are adapted, as at 58, 60, to receive and hold the spindles 17, 23 so that the unit 11 can be rotated about a horizontal axis.

The front wall of the tank 55, carrying reference numeral 61, is provided with an elongate slot 63, the bottom of which is disposed slightly above the bottom 65 of the tank 55; the length of the slot being coextensive with the length of the tank 55. The rear wall 67 of the tank 55 is imperforate. In some applications, it should be recognized, the front wall 61 may have one or more apertures rather than the elongate slot 63, as preferred.

Both the front 61 and therear 67 walls are each provided with channel forming pieces 69, 71, which are disposed opposite each other at about the mid-length location of each wall 61, 67. A spacer wall 73 fits into the channel forming pieces 69, 71 and is provided with a groove 75 to receive the spindle 53 of the end cap 49 when only one tubular member 13 and end cap 49 are used, as shown in FIG. 7.

The apparatus of my invention is useful in various ways. When it is desired to develop one size photographic print that fits within one tubular member 13 say, either the flexible or the rigid screen 43 is first inserted into the tubular member. Then an exposed sheet of photographic paper 77 is inserted into the screen 43 in such a way that the emulsion side of the paper is not touching the screen 43, as shown in FIG. 9.

If only one print is to be processed, then previously prepared photographic developing chemicals are poured into the tubular member, the end cap placed over the open end, and the assembled unit 11 placed in the tank 55 in the position shown in FIG. 7. The tank 55 and the unit 11 may be placed beneath a faucet 79 from which a stream of water 81 flows onto the vanes 41, whereby the unit 11 rotates about a horizontal axis through the spindles 17, 53. Or, the unit 11 may be placed in a tank 89, as suggested in'FlG. 11, like that of tank 55, but which is provided with at least one shaft 91 having a pair of rollers 93 mounted thereon within the tank 89. The shaft 91 protrudes from the tank end wall and is driven by a belt 95. The belt 95 connects to a pulley that is indicated by the reference numeral 97 and that is mounted on and driven by a rotary source of power, like a motor 99. Of course, those skilled in the art will understand that any other suitable means for rotating the shaft 91 may be used if preferred.

if two or more prints are to be made simultaneously, in addition to the screen 43 and paper 77, another screen 45 with a sheet of exposed photographic paper inside of it is inserted into the tubular member 13 containing the screen 43 and paper. Likewise, screen 47 with exposed photographic paper inside of it may be inserted into the screen 45. Then", previously prepared photographic developing chemicals are poured into the tubular member 13, the cap 49 secured over the open end, and the assembled unit 11 placed in the tank 55 or 89, as preferred.

Rotation of the assembled unit 11 is effected as shown in FIG. 8 or as in FIG. 11 until it is necessary to change the chemicals.

In some instances, when large photogrphic prints are to be made which are too large to fit into one tubular member as described hereinabove, two tubular members 13, 19 and the adapter 39 are assembled as a unit 6 into one of the tubular members, the unit is assembled and then placed in a tank like that shown in FIG. 6.

When two or more large prints are to be made simultaneously the two tubular members and adapter are used in conjunction with long screens 43 and 45 as described previously, and even with a third screen 47.

FIG. 10 illustrates a modification of my invention in that, instead of using a screen 45 inside of the tubular members 13, 19, the inside surfaces of tubular members 13a, 19a, have a plurality of protrusions thereon. These protrusions 85 serve to keep the exposed photographic paper 87 in spaced apart relation to the inner surface of the tubular members 130, 19a.

While the foregoing description of my invention has been centered around developing and processing photographic paper prints, it should be recognized that it is not so limited. The tubular members 13, 19 used individually or together as an assembled unit may hold a plurality of spiral-wire type or plastic reels for developing exposed photographic film. In such instances, the reels are inserted into one tubular member 13 say, the cap 49 is placed over the open end after having poured the film developing chemicals into the tubular member, and then the assembled unit is placed in the tank 55 or 89 and the unit rotated as though paper prints were being processed. If several reels are being used at one time, then two tubular members and an adapter can be assembled as the unit which is handled as described previously herein.

From the foregoing description of my invention, those skilled in the art will recognize many important features and advantages among which the following are particularly significant: I

That the apparatus of my invention are simple, inexpensive and adaptable for use by commercial as well as amateur photographer alike;

That the apparatus of my invention can be easily used by personnel of large commercial studios as well as by a mere novice photographer at home;

That the apparatus of my invention can process more than one print or reel of film simultaneously;

That the apparatus of my invention is useful for processing black and white as well as color prints and film with equal efficiency; and

That the apparatus of my invention can be quickly and readily assembled, used, cleaned and stowed away without taking up valuable floor space in a studio or home darkroom.

Although the invention has been described herein with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the disclosure is made only as an example and that the scope of the invention is defined by what is hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. 1n apparatus for processing photographic material, the improvement comprising:

a. first and second tubular containers, each of said containers having one open end and one closed end;

b. a tubular connector cooperating with each open end of said first and second tubular containers for connecting together said first and second tubular containers in axial alignment as a closed ended interconnected tubular unit; and

0. means within each of said tubular containers for maintaining photographic material in spaced apart relation to the inner surface of each tubular container.

2. The invention of claim 1 including: a. a perforated tubular member within one of said tubular containers, said perforated member being smaller in diameter than said means within said one tubular container and slideably removable therefrom.

3. The invention of claim 2 including: a. a perforated tubular member within said other tubular container, said perforated member being smaller in diameter than said means within said other tubular container and slideably removable therefrom.

4. The invention of Claim 2 including:

a. a second perforated tubular member within said aforementioned perforated tubular member within said one tubular container, said second perforated member having a diameter smaller than said aforementioned tubular member and slideably removable therefrom.

5. The invention of Claim 3 including:

a. a second perforated tubular member within said aforementioned perforated member in said other container, said second perforated member having a smaller diameter than said aforementioned perforated member and slideably removable therefrom.

6. ln apparatus for processing photographic material,

the improvement comprising:

d. a plurality of telescoping perforated tubular members within one of said containers and slideably removable therefrom.

7. The invention of claim 6 including:

a. a plurality of telescoping perforated tubular members within the other container and slideably removable therefrom. 

1. In apparatus for processing photographic material, the improvement comprising: a. first and second tubular containers, each of said containers having one open end and one closed end; b. a tubular connector cooperating with each open end of said first and second tubular containers for connecting together said first and second tubular containers in axial alignment as a closed ended interconnected tubular unit; and c. means within each of said tubular containers for maintaining photographic material in spaced apart relation to the inner surface of each tubular container.
 2. The invention of claim 1 including: a. a perforated tubular member within one of said tubular containers, said perforated member being smaller in diameter than said means within said one tubular container and slideably removable therefrom.
 3. The invention of claim 2 including: a. a perforated tubular member within said other tubular container, said perforated member being smaller in diameter than said means within said other tubular container and slideably removable therefrom.
 4. The invention of Claim 2 including: a. a second perforated tubular member within said aforementioned perforated tubular member within said one tubular container, said second perforated member having a diameter smaller than said aforementioned tubular member and slideably removable therefrom.
 5. The invention of Claim 3 including: a. a second perforated tubular member within said aforementioned perforated member in said other container, said second perforated member having a smaller diameter than said aforementioned perforated member and slideably removable therefrom.
 6. In apparatus for processing photographic material, the improvement comprising: a. first and second tubular containers, each of said containers having one open end and one closed end; b. a tubular connector cooperating with each open end of said first and second tubular containers for connecting together said first and second tubular containers in axial alignment as a closed ended interconnected tubular unit; c. means within each of said tubular containers for maintaining photographic material in spaced apart relation to the imner surface of each container; and d. a plurality of telesCoping perforated tubular members within one of said containers and slideably removable therefrom.
 7. The invention of claim 6 including: a. a plurality of telescoping perforated tubular members within the other container and slideably removable therefrom. 